Chelsea told to forget signing of South American playmaker this summer

Chelsea have been warned against landing Barcelona-owned Philippe Coutinho, with Blues hero Frank Leboeuf claiming the Brazilian attacking midfielder would not even get in Frank Lampard’s side.

Philippe is coming to the end of his loan at Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga heavyweights have made it clear they won’t take up their option to make the deal permanent, with Blaugrana once again looking for a buyer.

The Blues have reportedly been in contact with Coutinho’s agents over bringing the playmaker back to the Premier League.

However, Frank – who spent five years at Chelsea, twice winning the FA Cup – struggles to see where Philippe would fit in at Chelsea and does not believe he would be a smart acquisition.

Asked if he could see Philippe ending up at Chelsea, Frank told ESPN FC: ‘I don’t think so. Coutinho has been good with Liverpool, so far poor with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

‘I would have lots of question marks seeing him coming to Chelsea, to bring what? ‘We have young players, very talented, who are very promising.

We have good midfield players with [Mateo] Kovacic and Jorginho, to organise the game. I don’t know where his place would be. If I was the chairman, if I was the coach, I would be very hesitant to pick him up.’

Coutinho – who cost Blaugrana in excess of £105 million – has scored nine goals and eight assists in 32 games for Bayern Munich this season before the term was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the German outfit not suitably impressed enough to sign him permanently.